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US Military in Crisis: Trump’s Chaos Throws Pentagon into Disarray

Wes O'Donnell
6 min readJan 30, 2025

The Pentagon had a hell of a week — thanks to Donald Trump.

Masterfully constructed in Canva by the author using public domain imagery. You’re welcome.

In his signature style of governing by erratic executive order, the “commander-in-chief” managed to send the Department of Defense into a full-blown tailspin, with officials scrambling to interpret, implement, and then undo his hastily issued directives.

The chaos began when top Army officials, apparently misreading Trump’s decree on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), froze new weapons contracts — yes, weapons contracts, the lifeblood of the defense industry.

The Pentagon quickly walked back the decision, but not before defense executives were left clutching their pearls (or, more accurately, their stock portfolios), wondering whether they were about to take an unexpected fiscal nosedive.

Nothing like a little bureaucratic whiplash to keep things interesting.

This isn’t just a one-off blunder. Trump’s penchant for issuing sweeping, vague orders and expecting instant results has repeatedly forced government agencies into a game of policy Twister.

His latest spree of executive actions — including freezing certain federal funds and halting foreign military aid — has left the Pentagon, the country’s largest federal agency, struggling to keep up.

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Wes O'Donnell
Wes O'Donnell

Written by Wes O'Donnell

US Army & US Air Force Veteran | Global Security Writer | Intel Forecaster | Law Student | TEDx Speaker | Pro Democracy | Pro Human | Hates Authoritarians

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